Comparison of physical activity practices and dietary habits of health club members and community controls in Khayelitsha, Cape Town

Abstract

Chronic diseases pose public health concerns globally with an increasing trend in developing countries. The development of interventions to minimize or prevent the burden associated with chronic diseases has therefore become a necessity. In 2002 the School of Public Health of the University of the Western Cape developed a health club intervention in Khayelitsha. This intervention focused on promoting healthy lifestyles, particularly improved diet and physical activity. The objectives of this study was to determine whether members were more physically active than non-members and to determine whether members made healthier dietary choices than non-members.